(CNN) - Rush Limbaugh seems to have given Hillary Clinton his stamp of approval for the second time this year.

The conservative talk show host — who urged supporters during the primary season to back Clinton in an effort to prolong the bitter Democratic presidential nomination fight — told ABC’s Barbara Walters that Clinton’s selection as Secretary of State was "a brilliant stroke" by President-elect Obama.

He said the move was a political master stroke, effectively ruling out a primary challenge in four years. "You know the old phrase, 'You keep your friends close and your enemies closer?' How can she run for president in 2012?” he asks. “She'd have to run against the incumbent and be critical of him - the one who made her Secretary of State."

Obama himself seemed to give a nod Monday to the pair’s policy disagreements during the 2008 primary season. "I assembled this team because I'm a strong believer in strong personalities and strong opinions,” he said at the event where he named Clinton as the leader of his new national security team. “I think that's how the best decisions are made.”

soundoff(735 Responses)

patriot

I asked my wife why the messiah hasn't fixed the economy yet. She is not political so I figured I could get an unbiased response. Her response, the Clintons haven't given him permission. HAHAHAHAHA, now that's change.

December 1, 2008 05:11 pm at 5:11 pm |

Amber

A broken watch is still right twice a day.

December 1, 2008 05:11 pm at 5:11 pm |

mary, colorado springs

Rush Limbaugh could improve his personality 100% if he had his tongue cut out.

December 1, 2008 05:11 pm at 5:11 pm |

Obama snorts coke

Rush is right...again. Where is the change???

December 1, 2008 05:12 pm at 5:12 pm |

kj from west palm

can air force one jam his signal?

December 1, 2008 05:12 pm at 5:12 pm |

Jaison!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Limbaugh,

Are you drinking something??? or you are moving toward left
maybe now you realize that there is nothing left on right side. this is a
1st time in my entire life i heard something good from your loud/ugly
mouth. for that i got a give you Thums up.

December 1, 2008 05:12 pm at 5:12 pm |

Glenn-Florida

Dear CNN,
What ever RUSH says is NOT news but is usually a lie. More Drugs, Alcohol and propaganda anyone? .............

Not for me thanks!

December 1, 2008 05:12 pm at 5:12 pm |

bob in LA

he missed a reason for her to take it.
If in two years, his policies and foreign relations are bad, she can quit and run against him without it being a spit in the face of an incumbant and she will have the extra foreign experience some said she lacked.
Hillary is one of the best political minds this country has whether you agree with her views or not.

December 1, 2008 05:12 pm at 5:12 pm |

rob10001

Rush now lives in Palinworld with the rest of the headless turkeys.

December 1, 2008 05:12 pm at 5:12 pm |

MAJ

How close should society keep you Limbaugh? You are every man's enemy, you pompous a.....

December 1, 2008 05:12 pm at 5:12 pm |

truthsayer

Why should we care what a radio talk show host thinks

December 1, 2008 05:13 pm at 5:13 pm |

Tony

Oh please, that loud mouths opinion is about as useful as Dick Cheney's endorsement of John McCain. Why are people still putting a microphone in front of him. He never has anything sane or valuable to say. Since the Bush family is packing for their move, can't they put Limbaugh in a trunk and store him somewhere until Halloween? They can threaten to let him out to scare neighborhood children.

December 1, 2008 05:13 pm at 5:13 pm |

nate

Its brilliant because It give Rush an ez target for the next 4 yrs...

December 1, 2008 05:13 pm at 5:13 pm |

gslippy

2012 is a long way off. I can't believe people are even talking about it. Let the next 4 years happen first.

I love the shoot-the-messenger comments here. Rush is right. Even if you hate Hillary, she is very qualified to be Secretary of State.

December 1, 2008 05:14 pm at 5:14 pm |

Preatorian, Ft. Myers

Clinton has no foreign policy experience–except with the EU.
We need a Secretary of State–who can negotiate eyeball to eyeball with the Muslims. A man would have been better in this time in history if BOM really expected to make headway w/ the Saudi's, Muslim states–and especially Iran.

December 1, 2008 05:14 pm at 5:14 pm |

Lillie

advice out of the mouth of a drug addict.....ummmm

December 1, 2008 05:14 pm at 5:14 pm |

DeVone

talk show host are follish, and this Limbaugh is a try to be trouble maker he is just MOUTH. TO MUCH MOUTH

December 1, 2008 05:15 pm at 5:15 pm |

Diane

Hurley Cable,
I have to agree with you, the man is more interested in the drama than forwarding the country. I threw up in mouth a little when I had to admit that he is right on this one though.

And to WELCOME TO THE OBAMA SHOW....yeah there may be a lot of old timers in Obama's cabinet (as the case with most newly elected presidents) but who makes the final decisions? President Barack Obama!

December 1, 2008 05:15 pm at 5:15 pm |

Sherrie

Sorry, Layne. I am one of those "Hillary or nothing" fans who still won't get behind him. His pick of Senator Clinton does nothing to change my opinion that he is like the emperor with no clothes.

December 1, 2008 05:15 pm at 5:15 pm |

Anna, ATL

CLINTON is NOT going to challenge Obama in 2012 under any circumstances.
that is crazy! Obama would have to resign for another Democrat to run in 2012. It just doesnt happen at the national level–for Rush not to get that...well, never mind.

The only people dumber than Rush are his listeners.

December 1, 2008 05:16 pm at 5:16 pm |

Melissa

Andy H,

Sitting presidents are not given an automatic nomination. The Republican and Democratic primaries still take place. The questions is whether anyone from their political party will challenge an incumbent president. Knowing that half of all registered Democrats voted for her, Hillary had a very good motivation to seek the nomination again, especially if B.O.'s 1st term is not stellar.
She could then say "See, I told you he wasn't experienced enough."
Now, even if he doesn't do very well, she can't quite say that - she'll be part of the policy setting (at least as far as foreign policy).
Either way - I for one am glad to know she will be part of his administration. I voted for HIllary, and still believe she is better suited to be POTUS than he is. How can he say she has no foreign policy experience during the primaries and then nominate her for SoS?
....just another politician.... wake up Obama-bots

December 1, 2008 05:16 pm at 5:16 pm |

C Spurgeon

Does someone besides the media care about what this idiot thinks?

December 1, 2008 05:17 pm at 5:17 pm |

Liberal in Los Angeles, CA

No one carries what Limp says about anything!!!!

December 1, 2008 05:17 pm at 5:17 pm |

Carl Las Vegas Nevada

Why does ANYONE care what this guys thinks?

December 1, 2008 05:18 pm at 5:18 pm |

MF Atlanta

Don't suppose all those commentors deriding Limbaugh about drugs and alcohol are clean, eh? And hey, he gets paid millions for his opinion. Us? Nothing. Don't particularly like him myself but I won't call for his ouster: I'll just turn the radio to another channel.